When a person needs to build a house they use a blueprint. It contains all the information needed to construct it from the print.

When a person needs to write a resume they need to use an outline. The outline of a resume is the blueprint to resume writing success. It centralizes all of the information needed to write a resume making it easier to target them to specific job announcements.

Generally speaking the majority of resumes contain the same basic information as outlined below:

Outline of a Resume

Top of Page (usually centered)

Your name

Home address

Home phone number

Cell phone number (or other contact #)

Email address (make sure it is a professional email & not a nickname)

Objective Statement (optional)

The objective statement should be targeted to a specific job announcement for which you’re applying.

Example: Seeking a position as a Volunteer Coordinator for Mokena Humane Society

Qualification/Career Summary (optional, but I recommend using it with all resumes)

Over ten years experience in production management.

Adept at meeting organizational objectives while meeting the needs of employees

Proven ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure

Education (list all relevant education)

Degrees (highest 1st)

Certifications

Training

Work Experience/Employment History

Current or most recent position

Continue listing pertinent work experience

Activities & Associations

Organizations

Associations

Student government

Community activities

Special Skills

Foreign language

Typing

Computer/Software

any other skills that “fit” the specific job description

Honors & Awards (formal recognition you’ve received)

Professional

Academic

Community

Set aside at least 2 or more hours when writing your resume outline. Don’t forget to gather all the pertinent materials you’ll need such as current and past employment data, education information degrees/certifications, reference information (names, addresses, phone numbers), and any job announcements for which you plan to apply.

Spending the necessary time upfront will save you time in the long run. Your resume outline is the blueprint to success containing everything you need to fill-in-the-blanks of your resume regardless of the format (chronological, functional, or combination).